Illuminated advertising device



April 20, 1926. rgszmos- J.- w. GUINN ET m.

ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING DEVICE Filed June 15,, 1925 I Patented Apr. 20,1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WIMBISH GUINN, 0F LAGRANGE, AND LAWRENCE HILL STEELE, 0F VAUGHN,

GEORGIA.

ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING DEVICE.

Application filed June 15, 1925. Serial No. 37,283.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN lV'. GUINN and LAwnnNon HILL STEELE, citizensof the United States, residing at Lagrange, Troup County, and Vaughn,Clayton County, Georgia, respectively, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Illuminated Advertising Devices;.and we do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to improvements in illuminated advertisingdevices, and i has for an object to provide a vehicle accessory forembodiment with a signal light of the type in which such light isilluminated by the application of the brake or the dis engagement of theclutch; and the invention contemplates the use of a support for thesignal lamp and its casing presenting a panel on which advertisingmatter may be displayedin position to be illuminated by the lamp whenlighted.

Another object of the invention resides in Figure 1 is a diagrammaticside View of a vehicle equipped with the improved device;

Figure 2 is an elevation with parts in section of the device;

Figure 3 is a similar view taken from the opposite side of the device;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 44: in Fig. 2, and vFigure 5 is a horizontal section takenon the line 55 also in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive, 6 designates thecasing or housing for the usual signal lamp. In this instance the casingis composed of sheet metal bent substantially U-shaped to provide iugthe lamp 20.

the front and rear walls 7 and S, which are disposed transversely of.thevehicle. The top connecting portion of the casing is preferablyrounded up\ ardly to better provide a reflecting surface. The ends ofthe casing are closed by the walls 9 andlO. The end wall 5) is providedwith the flanges 11 and 12 turned iii vardly and litted within the frontand rear walls 7 and 8 to which such flanges are attached as by theboltsor other fastenings 13 and let. in a similar way, the opposite endwall 10 is provided with the flanges l5 and 16, litted between the frontand rear walls and secured as by the ii'astenings 17 and 18 to saidwalls. The end wall 10 pro vides for holding the lamp socket 19 carry-The socket is preferably elongated and projects for an, appreciabledistance within the lamp casing, in order to bring the lamp 20 to,approximately a central point therein. The elongated lamp socket 19 issupported on the bracket arm 21 carried by the bolt- 22 threaded throughsaid arm and engaging through the end wall be-. 'neath said socket.

In the rear wall 8 is cut the signal, usually consisting of the wordStop, although this may be any other word or symbol. Behind this signalis a colored panel 23, usually red, and this panel is held in place bythebolts 13 and 17, and

the lower edge of said panel, which is preferably of mica or celluloidis kept smooth by an angle strip 24. The horizontal web 25 of this anglestrip projects toward the opposite wall 7 and serves as a mask to cutoff the projection of the light rays from the lamp away from the sign oradvertising board 26.

This board acts as a support for the lamp casing 6 and extends beneaththe lower open portion of the lamp casing. The signboard is fitted atits upper end within the lamp casing 6, and its side edges are fittedflush against the end walls 9 and 10 of the casing in order to preventrelative rocking movement of the signboard and the lamp casing. Thebolts 14 and 18, four in number, are used to afiix the signboard to thefront wall 7 of said casing. The signboard is fitted against the flanges12 and 15, which space it slightly to the rear of the front wall 7 ofthe casing. The signboard may be of any form, but it is preferablybulged outwardly at opposite sides, the end walls 9 and 10 of the casingthrowing the rays from the lamp to the bulged portion. The lower end ofsuch signboard is provided with the reduced extension 27 fitted betweenthe angle clips 28 and 29 and aflixed thereto as by the bolts or otherfastenings 30. The horizontal flanges of the clips 28 and 29' are shapedto conform to the fender of the vehicle indicated in dotted lines inFig. 1, or these horizontal flanges may be shaped to other form, inaccordance with the part of the vehicle to which the device is attached.It will be found convenient, however, to place one or more of thedevices on the fenders, as indicated in Fig. 1. The lamp sockets 19 ofthe devices are included in a circuit 31 with the battery 32, whichn'iay be the storage battery of the vehicle. The contacts 33 and 34 arenormally open but are arranged to be closed by the foot brake or clutchpedal 35, or other means.

In the operation of the invention, the parts being mounted and arrangedsubstantially as indicated in Fig 1, whenever the driver acts to stopthe vehicle, either by disengaging the clutch or thrusting the brakepedal forward, the circuit- 31 will be closed by bringing the normallyopen contacts 33 and 3% together. As a conscqnencc, the lamp 20 will beilluminated, the stop sign displayed in red for the advantage offollowing vehicles and at the same time the rays from the lamp 20 willshine upon the advertising board 26 and ilhnninate the advertisingmatter borne thereby. This ad vertising matter may be painted orenameled directly upon the signboard or it may be at-- tachod thereby bypaper or other posters. The signboard will effectually support the lampcasingand at the same time it enters and forms a structural part of thecasing to reinforce it and to prevent its canting laterally upon thevehicle, whereby to preserve the alinement of the stop signal.

lVhile we have shown the lamp chamber at the top of the advertisingdevice thrusting the lightdownward on the plate, it will be obvious thatthe lamp chamber may be placed at the bottom of the device or at anyother desired position, so long" as the light is thrown on theadvertising plate.

We desire it to be understood that the drawings only show one embodimentof which the invention is susceptible, and those skilled in the artwill, of course, be enabled to change the size and proportion of thedevice and parts thereof and to n'ialze other constructional changestherein, but we re serve the right to alter such changes andmodifications as come within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A combined signal light and advertising; device comprising a lampcasing havingfront and rear walls and an open bottom, said rear wallhavingsignal perforations flanged end walls secured to said front andrear walls, a lamp in the casing, an adverr sing; board having its upperend fitted close to the front wall and against flanges of said endwalls, means to secure the flanges and board to said front wall, theedges of the board fitting against said side walls, and means at thelower portion of the board to attach same to the vehicle.

2. A combined signal light and advertising device comprising a lampcasing closed at its top, sides and ends and open at its,

bottom and having; its rear wall perforated, a color panel fitted to therear wall, an advertising board secured to the casing' and extendingdown fron'i the open bottom thereof, and an angle strip secured to therear wall along the lower edge of the color panel.

JOHN winnisn GUINN, WR'nNon i-nLL srnniiin.

